Pelham School Eligible for $15K From Box Top Contest

Prospect Hill Elementary School parents and students are fund-raising powerhouses. The school is vying for an impressive amount of money for participating in the General Mills Box Tops for Education contest.

According to Box Tops for Education, Prospect Hill Elementary School has currently earned $15,030.18. If selected, the money will be paid in April in a check payable to Pelham Union-Free School District and Prospect Hill Elementary School, said Assistant Superintendent Angelo Rubbo. 

Last night, Prospect Hill got closer to its goal when Pelham Board of Education members unanimously approved signing a required waiver form to be submitted to General Mills. Rubbo explained time was of the essence for submission of the paperwork. 

Participating schools accumulate money by redeeming coupons, product box tops, making online purchases through vendors participating in the program and other online activities. The contest pays a maximum of $20,000 per year to participating schools.

Prospect Hill Elementary has apparently earned the lion's share of its potential funds by purchases from participating local retailers. By contrast, Siwanoy Elementary School has $686 of eligible funds in the program, all earned from physical box tops. 

Last December, Prospect Hill was paid $212 from the program.

Prospect Hill Elementary supporters boosted the school's earnings from $6.94 in January to more than $15,000 by March 11. [This reporter registered to access the school statistics, but has not participated in the Box Tops for Education contest.] On March 1, the school logged 15,000 box tops from the "Ahold Return to School Sweepstakes" which raised the fundraising total to the current amount.

The General Mills Box Tops for Education program has been in existence since 1996 generating more than $475 million for participating schools.